Hiking Lion Mountain is a great way to get a glimpse of the entire southeast coast of Mauritius from a bird’s eye perspective.
The hike leads to several viewpoints, offering panoramic views over the bay of Mahebourg. From the summit, you can also spot Ile aux Aigrettes, Ile au Phare and Ile de la Passe.
Although challenging at times as the trail isn’t always clear, it’s definitely one of Mauritius’ top hikes.
In this blog post, I’m going to show you what it’s like to hike Lion Mountain in Mauritius, including a map and mistakes to avoid.
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Where is Lion Mountain?
Lion Mountain is located in Old Grand Port, in the southeast of Mauritius.
The trailhead is located at the Old Grand Port Police Station.
If you’re coming by car, I recommend parking at the Frederick Hendrick Museum since there’s no parking space near the trailhead.
Alternatively, you can take the bus from Mahebourg or Flacq and alight near the police station.
Related post: Top hiking trails on Mauritius Island
Lion Mountain Hiking Trail
- Distance: About 2.5 km one way (5 km round trip)
- Height: 490 meters
- Difficulty: Moderate to hard
- Total duration: 3 to 5 hours
You can find the Lion Mountain hiking trail on the maps.me app by searching for “Lion Mountain track”. Alternatively, I’ve also created this map based on the trail on maps.me app for ease of reference.
It’s important to note that the hike can be challenging and thus not for the faint-hearted as it’s very steep and also quite easy to get lost there. If you’re not confident hiking on your own, I highly recommend hiring a guide.
As mentioned before, the hike starts at the Old Grand Port Police Station. Continue straight ahead until you reach a fork in the road.
Turn left and keep walking until you reach a sign on which is written “Adrien Street”. Turn right on Adrien Street and you’ll immediately reach a sugar cane field.
The initial trail is well beaten with only a gradual incline. If you turn around, you can already get a glimpse of the ocean.
After a while, the path becomes less clear and you’ll have to walk between tall grass. It’s a good idea to wear long pants to protect yourself from scrapes and cuts.
As you get closer to the mountain, the path becomes steeper and you’ll have to scramble over the rocks. You’ll also come across a small stream flowing down the rocks.
From this point, the trail can get confusing, so you need to be extremely careful. I just kept going up by holding on to the branches and roots.
After a while, I started to notice some red ribbons attached to the trees, so I followed them until I reached this huge boulder (see photo below).
Behind the boulder, you’ll find a path leading to the west viewpoint. The path is well-defined and it should take less than five minutes to reach the viewpoint.
From there, you’ll get a panoramic view of the ocean as well as the “lion head”.
Related post: Guide to visiting the south of Mauritius
After enjoying the view, head back toward the boulder and continue along the trail leading to the east viewpoint.
Halfway in between, you’ll find a path on your left that leads to the summit of Lion Mountain (I didn’t attempt this part but it’s marked on the maps.me app).
The path leading to the east viewpoint is mostly flat except for the occasional ups and downs but nothing too strenuous. The trail is easy to follow as there are red and yellow markers on the trees.
The only downside is that it’s quite muddy and full of mosquitoes. Finally, about 20-25 minutes later, you’ll reach the east viewpoint.
Note: On your way back, you might notice another path on your left that seems to lead down the mountain. Since there were red ribbons attached to the trees and roots, I decided to follow them but unfortunately, the trail led me to a dead end. In order to avoid making the same mistake as I did, make sure to return through the exact same path you took to get up.
Where to stay near Lion Mountain?
Otentic Eco Tent Experience
If you’re looking for the best place for glamping in Mauritius, make sure to book a stay at Otentic Eco Tent Experience. Located along the edge of GRSE, about a 25 minutes drive from the trailhead, Otentic features 9 spacious safari tents that can fit up to 5 guests. Each tent has one double bed and 2 or 3 single beds, a private bathroom and even electricity and hot water.
Activities like SUP, kayaking, mountain biking, boat shuttle to Ile aux Cerfs are included in the room rate. For more details, make sure to read this detailed review of Otentic Eco Tent to find out why you should stay there!
La Hacienda Mauritius
La Hacienda Mauritius is a budget accommodation featuring an outdoor swimming pool located about 2.5 km from the trailhead. Each villa is fully equipped with a kitchenette, double bed, sofa bed, bathroom and a balcony overlooking the ocean.
FIND MORE HOTELS NEAR LION MOUNTAIN HERE
The hike to Lion Mountain is definitely a must-do when traveling to Mauritius as it offers one of the best views of the southeast coast! Let me know in the comment section below if this hike is on your to-do list!
Read more about Mauritius:
- The best hiking trails in Mauritius
- 18 must-see waterfalls in Mauritius
- Best hikes in Black River Gorges NP
- Top places to visit in South Mauritius
- What you need to know about hiking Le Morne Brabant
- Hiking Le Pouce Mountain: Your ultimate guide
- Piton de la Petite Rivière Noire hiking guide